OVHS Swimmers Look To Cause A Splash This Season; First Meet Is Thursday At Martinsville

by Amanda York

Staff Writer

Members of the 2010-2011 girls’ swim team at Owen Valley High School include, front row, left to right: Paige Wetzel, Elizabeth Coffin, Storme Dayhuff, Annie Casebeer, Emme French and Rebecca Walcott. Back row: Tiffany St. John, Emily Trader, Ariel Holcombe, coach Joanna Provines, Victoria Glasscock, Megan Parker, Whitney Terrell and Olivia West. (Staff Photo)
The 2010-2011 Owen Valley Patriot boys’ and girls’ swim teams, under the direction of head coach Joanna Provines, will take to the pool for their first meet of the season Thursday evening at Martinsville.

With six seniors overall, coach Provines will look to them for leadership on this still young team.

Girls’ Swim Team

“Our OVHS girls’ squad is 12 strong this year, four of them being seniors,” coach Provines remarked. “We have seven veteran swimmers along with five first-year swimmers. I am looking forward to a season of fast swims, school records being shattered and lots of fun.”

Members of the 2010-2011 boys’ swim team at OVHS include, front row, left to right: Elijah Britton, Elijah Carlson and Jonathon Carey. Back row: Eric Hellman, Jake Helton, coach Joanna Provines, Matthew Amos and Lucas Bird. Not Pictured: Michael Megenhardt and assistant coach Dustin O’Hair. (Staff Photo)
Team members include and descriptions by coach Provines are:

•Tiffany St. John (senior): “She is a third-year swimmer and is the captain of the girls’ squad. She is key in the distance freestyle events and is also an outstanding breaststroker. She keeps the girls’ squad laughing at all times and the girls look to her for her leadership skills.”

•Elizabeth Coffin (senior): “She is a third-year swimmer this year and has her eye on the 100 freestyle record – she is a mere 1.17 seconds away. She has fantastic work ethics and the team is lucky to have her back. She has a solid freestyle and I will look to her for all relays.”

•Annie Casebeer (senior): “She is a third-year swimmer this year and is a pleasure to have on the team. She will only be swimming with the team until January 12, 2011 due to the fact she will be graduating early. I will look to her for mid-distance freestyle and breaststroke events.”

•Victoria Glasscock (senior): “She is a transfer from the state of Illinois and has several years of swimming experience. She has been nicknamed ‘Tenacious’ because she is grounded solid. She is one of our most versatile swimmers and I will look to her for individual medleys, breaststroke and wherever the team needs her. It would not surprise me if she gets her name on the OVHS record board this year.”

•Whitney Terrell (junior): “She is a third-year swimmer this year and holds four individual school records along with two relays. She is cocaptain of the girls’ squad and the girls look to her for inspiration and leadership. Whitney has set high goals for herself, looking to make state cuts in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 backstroke. She will be a key player in all the ‘A’ relays.”

•Storme Dayhuff (junior): “She is a first-year swimmer this year, and has adapted to the team with ease. She is a quick learner and hopes to improve on her turns as well as takeoffs. I will look to her for short distance freestyle and backstroke events.”

•Olivia Hilliard (sophomore): “She is a second-year swimmer this year and is probably the most spirited swimmer. She keeps me laughing all the time. She is one of our best athletes in the breaststroke event. I will look to her for short distance freestyle, breaststroke events and all relays.”

Paige Wetzel (sophomore): “She is a second-year swimmer and is a natural athlete. Having come straight out of volleyball, this puts her in superb condition in and out of the water. Her goals are to fine tune her strokes and turns. I will look to her for all distance freestyle, backstroke and butterfly events.”

Ariel Holocombe (sophomore): “She is a first-year swimmer and has adapted to swimming so very easily. She came out during pre-season conditioning and improves daily. I will look to her for mid-distance freestyle and backstroke events.”

Megan Parker (sophomore): “She is a first-year swimmer this year and works very hard at all practices. She came out during pre-season conditioning and also improves daily. Her goals are to improve on her turns, breathing and takeoffs. I will look to her for short distance freestyle and backstroke events.”

•Emme French (freshman): “She is a first-year swimmer and one of the only two freshmen on the squad. She comes to practice with a ‘can do attitude’ and has a heart of gold. I will look to her for short distance freestyle and backstroke events.”

•Rebecca Walcott (freshman): “She is a first-year swimmer and has past gymnastic experience which makes her a very coachable swimmer. She has a very competitive drive which will pay off in the pool. I will look to her for short and mid-distance freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events.”

Boys’ Swim Team

“Our OVHS boys’ squad is eight strong this year, two of them being seniors,” coach Provines said. “We are rebuilding from the five swimmers we had at the end of last season. All five swimmers have returned this year with an additional three. I am looking forward to a season of fast swims, school records being shattered and lots of fun.”

Team members include and descriptions by coach Provines are:

•Matt Amos (senior captain): “He is a third-year swimmer at OV and I will be looking to him for his leadership skills. Matt just came out of football season so he is in excellent shape. He is an outstanding sprinter with his key events being 50 free, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly. It would not surprise me to see him shatter school records this year. He was our ‘Best Attitude” award winner last year.”

•Jake Helton (senior): “He is a second-year swimmer. Jake’s gift is his confidence – he is not afraid to risk more than others. His personal goal this season is to master another swim stroke, other than his primary stroke. I will look to him for all three relays this year, along with sprints and mid-distance freestyle.”

•Elijah Britton (junior co-captain): “He is a second-year swimmer this season. He just came out of soccer season so he is in top shape. His primary events are mid-distance freestyle and backstroke. His goals are to fine tune his strokes and turns. He was our ‘Most Improved’ swimmer last season so we will build on that.”

•Lucas Bird (junior): “He is a second-year swimmer this season. He is one of our best swimmers on the boys’ squad in the breaststroke event this year. His perfectionist ways and personal goals he has set for himself will definitely make him an asset to the team. I will look to him for mid-distance freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.”

•Elijah Carlson (sophomore): “He is a second-year swimmer this season. Elijah is our most versatile swimmer being able to swim the 500 freestyle to the 50 freestyle and everything in between. I attribute that to him swimming during the off-season. I will look to him to swim where the team needs him and he will be a key player in all relays. He was our ‘Most Valuable Swimmer’ last year.”

•Michael Megenhardt (sophomore): “He is a second-year swimmer this season. One of his greatest assets is his ‘can do’ attitude he brings with him to all practices and competitions. His personal goals are to shatter the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke school records. The sky is the limit for this athlete; I will look to him for IM’s, butterfly and breaststroke events.”

•Jonathon Carey (sophomore): “He is a first-year swimmer this season and we are lucky to have him. He is just coming out of tennis which puts him in great condition. In the short time he has practiced with the team he has made tremendous gains. I will look to him for mid-distance freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke.”

•Eric Hellman (freshman): “Being a first-year swimmer and the lone freshman on the boys’ squad, anything Eric does will be a gain in his swimming career. He came out during preseason conditioning with a will that won’t quit and fantastic discipline. I will look to him for short distance freestyle and backstroke events.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ squads will jump into the pool to take on Martinsville this coming Thursday, December 2 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Martinsville. The Patriots will then travel to Southport High School on Saturday to compete in the host school’s Cardinal Classic at 9:00 a.m.